Originally posted by manmarco My K-30 started black pics last week. Have read most of posts in this thread. Tested with a Vivitar 28mm, f2.8 and problem left. It seems I have ap-block problem.
My question is how likely are the K-70's to develop this problem?
I have been wanting to up grade for some time and planned to purchase a K-70 but I don't want the hassle of this rather common problem.
Thanks. wdb
I have heard only that the K-70 has the same solenoid inside.
I know for sure that the K-S1 as well as the K-S2 have it as well.
I have disassembled a K50 yesterday and posted my results here:
K-50 / K-500 Aperture Solenoid fix (DIY with pics) - Page 2 - PentaxForums.com
I did not find it too difficult, it was the first time I've done it but I disassembled 3 damaged K100Ds before, using this as a kind
of training.
here a video I found of a nice gentle-man disassembling his K50:
What you need is:
- very fine soldering-iron (temperature controlled is best)
- excellent fine solder (low melting point)
- PH00 screwdriver for all screws disassembling the body
- PH000 for the screw which holds the solenoid (I managed to do it with my very good PH00 but I think it would work better with a PH000)
(buy good quality, I had some cheap ones as well which I used on the K100Ds and finally broke both when I disassembled a Z-20 which
does not have a solenoid inside!)
If confident it will take about 1 hour of work alltogether to repair a K50
I took extra time to check the K50 when open, the solenoid remained stuck.
After the exchange: Perfect functioning
If you are not scared to take on this work one day, then no problem purchasing the K70.
Or you take into account that one day you have to invest about $ 120 for repair.
This anyway might happen as well with cameras of other brands.
Originally posted by Not a Number Since @altopiet K-30 was "factory" repaired I'd be interested to see a "green" solenoid was used as a replacement. But then as I recall his K-30 failed early on so Ricoh/Hoya may not have had enough cases to isolate a faulty component.
Attached a photo of the solenoid Ricoh used 1 year ago for repair of a Pentax K-30. As you can see, it is the chinese green devil